The MexicoBlog of the CIP Americas Program monitors and analyzes international press on Mexico with a focus on the US-backed War on Drugs in Mexico and the struggle in Mexico to strengthen the rule of law, justice and protection of human rights. Relevant political developments in both countries are also covered.

Apr 18, 2012

New Strategy in Drug War Focuses on Treatment, Not Punishment

HispanicBusiness.com: The Obama Administration unveiled a new strategy to combat drug abuse focusing on treatment rather than throwing drug abusers in jail.

"This is nothing short of a revolution in how we approach drug control," said Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, who said the new strategy would be guided by the principle that addiction is a treatable disease, that those addicted to drugs could recover and that innovative criminal justice reforms could stop the revolving door of drug use, crime, imprisonment and eventual and inevitable rearrest.

"We are not going to arrest our way out of this problem," he said. read more